Table of Contents

Abstract.pdf .......... i

Acknowledgments.pdf .......... iii

Table of Contents.pdf .......... v

List of Tables.pdf .......... vii

List of Figures.pdf .......... viii

CHAPTER 1. Introduction.pdf (170k) .......... 1

1.1 Background .......... 1

1.2 On Investigating Interannual Variability in the North Atlantic .......... 5

1.3 Methods .......... 9

1.3.1 Ocean Model .......... 9

1.3.2 Atmospheric Model.......... 11

1.3.3 Experimental Setup .......... 11

1.4 Remarks .......... 12

CHAPTER 2. Model Climatologies.pdf (555k) .......... 13

2.1 Atmosphere-Ocean Coupling .......... 13

2.2 CCM1 Climatology in the North Atlantic Sector.......... 15

2.2.1 Fields Associated with Surface Heat and Momentum Fluxes .......... 16

2.2.2 Fields Associated with Salinity .......... 23

2.2.3 Discussion .......... 23

2.3 Consistent Climatology for the Mixed Layer Ocean Model .......... 24

2.3.1 Calculation of Flux Corrections and Tuning .......... 25

2.3.2 Patterns of Flux Corrections .......... 31

2.4 Summary .......... 32

CHAPTER 3. Hindcast and Sensitivity Experiments.pdf (996k) .......... 34

3.1 Observational Background .......... 35

3.2 Experiment Design .......... 41

3.3 Results .......... 42

3.3.1 Prescribed Atmospheric Variable Studies .......... 42

3.3.1.1 WARM Composite .......... 43

3.3.1.2 COLD Composite .......... 44

3.3.2 Sensitivity Studies .......... 49

3.3.3 Prescribed Flux Studies .......... 54

3.4 Discussion 57

3.5 Summary .......... 59

CHAPTER 4. Influence of Coupling in North Atlantic on Climate Variability.pdf (1,664k) .......... 61

4.1 Experiment Setup and Model Data Processing .......... 61

4.2 Climatology and Variance .......... 63

4.2.1 Mean Fall and Winter Climatology .......... 63

4.2.2 Wintertime Climate Anomalies .......... 67

4.3 Relationships Between Air-Sea Variables .......... 75

4.4 Natural Variability of the Model Climate .......... 76

4.4.1 Dipole Mode of Variability .......... 77

4.4.2 WARM and COLD Epochs of Dipole Variability .......... 85

4.4.2.1 Analysis of Winter Months (DJF) .......... 86

4.5 Discussion .......... 92

4.6 Summary .......... 93

CHAPTER 5. Examination of Persistence Associated with Coupling.pdf (1,240k) .......... 94

5.1 Persistence in the Atmosphere and Ocean .......... 95

5.1.1 Namias and Born `Re-emergence' Mechanism .......... 97

5.1.2 Decreased Damping by Heat Fluxes .......... 98

5.2 Vertical Structure of Oceanic Variability .......... 110

5.3 Role of Oceanic Entrainment in Persistence of Anomalies .......... 121

5.3.1 Description of Sensitivity Experiments .......... 121

5.3.2 Analysis .......... 125

5.4 Summary .......... 133

CHAPTER 6. Summary and Conclusions.pdf (19k) .......... 135

6.1 Conclusions .......... 136

6.1.1 Oceanic Response to Atmospheric Forcing .......... 136

6.1.2 Impact of Coupling on Atmospheric Anomalies .......... 137

6.1.3 Role of Entrainment on Mixed Layer Temperature Persistence .......... 139

6.2 Implications .......... 142

Appendix A Ocean Model.pdf (27k) .......... 143

REFERENCES.pdf .......... 151

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